Toulouse murders: a pivotal moment?

For the past two weeks, France has been fixated on the murders of three soldiers, three children and a teacher in the south-west. Debate has focused on the killer, his family, his support, as well as the police and intelligence work. Politicians have tried to look dignified, but are also trying benefit. So has Toulouse totally changed the campaign, or will it merely be a ripple? In any case, far-left candidate Jean-Luc Mélenchon, is surging in the polls. How high will he go?

A graduate of Sciences Po Paris and Columbia University, he was a journalist in New York for ten years before joining FRANCE 24 in 2009. He is specialised in French politics, Africa and the Middle East.